Rectifying column



Aug. 23, 1927,

' J. F.' CYPHERS RECTIFYING COLUMN 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

IN VEN TOR. M 7,

Aug.- 23, 1927.

J. F. CYPHERS RECTIFYING COLUMN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1923 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES F. CYPHERS, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BECTIFYING i COLUMN.

Application filed October 2, 1923. mm 110. 068,211.

This invention relates to improvements in the structure of rectifyingcolumns, and its object is to increase the capacity of such columns. Inthe ordinary column, the bonnets are fastened to the plates, and theplates frequently become uneven, or sagged in some part, therebyincreasing the depth of liquid )ver some of the bonnet orifices, leavingthe vapors to go through the orifices of the bonnets where less liquidis. The very least unevenness will mean an irregular exhausting of thevapors from the descending liquid because the vapors will always gothrough the orifices of the bonnets where the least liquid is located.

This increased capacity is obtained partly by providing a rigidlyconstructed column, in which all the parts are firmly held, and they areheld from the vibration which takes place when the boiling on the platesis violent, as well as being held level. The vibrations often fatiguethe plates until they break, and I propose to-do away with thisobjection by properly supporting the plates, which prevents thevibration.

To obtain this increased capacity the largest possible disengagementarea for the vapors must be had. The amount of space where the vaporscan bubble through the liquid and thus separate other vapors from theliquid can be increased either by increasing'the size of the plate or byincreasing the active area of the plate. In order to have a column ofreasonable size, or to increase the efficiency of the larger ones, I putthe rows of nozzles quite close together, and

the tops of the nozzles being flattened or squashed, a narrow bonnet canbe 'placed over them, andconsequently, more of -the surface of the platecan be effectively used.

In the operation of rectifying columns it is often desirable to varyover wide limits the volume of liquid flowing over the plates and yetkee' the depth of liquid over the top of the nnet'orifices within asclose limits as possible. I do this by making the weir over which thematerial flows in going to the down pipes to the plate below, as long aspossible. The longer, the greater the amount of the material for a givendepth, that flows over it in a given time.

Another ob'ect of my invention is to construct the column insections,.so that the parts may be shipped and readily and rigidlyassembled. With this construction,

can also make the columns any desired height.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description thereof.

While my invention may be carried out in many different ways, for thepur ose of illustration, I have shown only one orm of apparatus in theaccompanying drawings,

in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a section of the recti ying column section.Fig. 2 is a partial vertical view, with the casing of the front of thecolumn removed, and with certain other parts shown in section. Fig. 3 isan enlarged plan View of the posts and beams and of the nozzles andbonnets. Fig. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of the parts shownin Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a partial side view of the same parts and Fig. 6 isa vertical view of the posts that align and sup ort sections of thelumn.

imilar numerals ref r to similar parts throughout the several views.

The column section 1 has flanges 17 by which the several sections areriveted or bolted together. In the column, and fastened to its sides,are rectifying plates 2, having connecting down pipes 4 and elongatedweirs 3 before the entrance to the down pipes. Weirs 5 on the plates infront of the outlet of the down ipes build up an even supply of materialbefore it is allowed to flow over the plate. Vapor nozzles 6 are held inplates 2 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These nozzles have round bases andflattened top, and they are arranged on the plates so that theirflattened sides are next to the sides of the narrow bonnets or caps 7.Bonnets 7 are supported in layers by beams 8 and their ends are heldtogether by similar beams 9. Plates 2 are supported b beams' 10 7running in one direction an beams 11, running at right angles to beamsv10. The supporting posts are made up of similar sections, as shown inFig. 4;. Sections 13, between the plates and beams 8 have interior screwthreads at their lower ends and exterior threads on their upper ends,The exterior screws are passed through beams 8 which are fastened downby nuts 18. Nuts 18 are short and allow other posts 14, having lowerinternal screw threads to be screwed down on posts 13.

I Fitting over posts 14 are outer posts 15,

which have wings cast integral with them, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5inclusive. To these wings, beams 10 and 11 are rigidly fastened. Othersections 13 are then screwed on top of 14, until a section of the columnis thus built up. \Vhen a section is built up, it is held together byputting tapering nuts 16 over the top screws on posts 13, as shown inFig. 6.

To get the maximum etliciency from the column, it is apparent that allof the nozzles and especially the orifices of the bonnets must be keptat the same level in relation to the surface of the liquid. This isaccomplished by securing the bonnets to beams in layers and the beams tothe posts, independent of the plates, and then the plates containing thenozzles are secured to other beams, which in turn are secured to theposts.

The winged sections of the posts which are at the bottom of a columnsection are made as shown in Fig. 6 and are designated by 12. The havesockets in their lower ends which t over tapering nuts 16. Externalscrews are on their upper ends, to which the next sections 13 would havebeen attached. In this way the column may be made as high as desired.

The bonnets 7 have notched lower edges, the notches forming orifices asshown in Fig. 5, and the liquid is kept at a level between the tops ofthese notches and the tops ofthe nozzles 6. The tops of adjoiningnozzles, in a row, are drawn together and their bottoms are far enoughapart not to weaken the supporting plates nor to interrupt the even flowof liquid. The bonnets are placed over the nozzles so that the sides ofthe bonnets are near the flattened sides of the nozzles, but the bonnetsare not wide enough to extend beyond the lower part of the nozzles. Inthis way, the rows of nozzles and their bonnets can be placed closertogether, and so there may be more of them, and the liquid can be actedupon or exhausted in more places, over a given area, than was formerlypossible. In.' other words, the total bonnet perimeter is increased, anda larger area is provided for dis- 1engaging the vapors from thedescending e' operation of my invention will be ap arent from theforegoing description.

any changes in the apparatus may be made without departing. from thespirit of,

my invention.

I claim:

1. In a rectifying column, superposed plates adapted to hold liquid tobe rectified, spaced rows of spaced vapor nozzles in said plates, thetops of said vapor nozzles having one dimension greater than the other,a plurality of narrow bonnets each covering a row of said nozzles,sectional posts sup- 2. In a rectifying column, superposed platesadapted to hold liquid to be rectified spaced rows of spaced vapornozzles in said plates, narrow bonnets covering said noz-,

zles. downtake pipes in and at one side of said plates, elongated wen-sextending completely across said plates and adjacent the inlets to saidpipes.

3. In a rectifying column, substantially unobstructed superposed platesadapted to hold 'liquid to be rectified, spared rows of spaced vapornozzles in said plates. the tops of said vapor nozzles having onedimension greater than the other, narrow bonnets covering said nozzles,downtake pipes in and at one side of said plates, elongated weirsextending completely across said plates and adjacent the inlets to saidpipes, sectional posts supporting said plates and bonnets, the sectionsof said posts being rigidly connectable with each other.

4. In a rectifying column, superposed plates adapted to hold the liquidto be rectified, sectional posts supporting said plates, sections ofsaid posts having integral wings thereon and plate supporting beamsfixed to said wings.

5. In a rectifying column, superposed plates adapted to hold the liquidto be rectified, sectional posts supporting saidv plates, platesupporting beams connecting said posts, the sections of said posts beingrigidly connectable with each other, successive plates being attached toand sup ported by successive sections of said posts.

6. In a rectifying column, superposed plates adapted to hold the liquidto be rectified, sectional posts supporting each successive plate, saidcolumn being constructed of similar sections, the plate supporting postsof the successive sections having sockets and being brought intoalignment with the posts of preceding sections by fitting said socketsof the posts over the posts of the preceding section.

7. In a rectifyin column, superposed plates adapted to hold the liquidto be rectified, spaced rows of spaced vapor nozzles in said plates,layers of bonnets coverin said nozzles, sectional posts supporting saidplates and layers of bonnets, the sections of said posts being rigidlyconnectable with each other, successive plates and successive layersof'bonnets being attached to and supported by successive sections ofsaid posts.

8. In a rectifying column, a rectifying plate, said plate having aplurality of vapor nozzles therein, a horizontal cross section of thelower part of said nozzles being circular and the upper part, flattened.

9. In a rectifying. column, superposed rectifying plates having vapornozzles therein with circular bases and crushed or flattened sides nearthe tops thereof, narrow bonnets covering said nozzles, the crushed orflattened sides of the tops of said nozzles being next to the sides ofsaid bonnets.

10. In a rectifying column, a rectifying plate, downtake pipes at oneside of said plate and an elongated Weir extending completely across saiplate, adjacent and partially surrounding said pipes, said elongatedweir being adapted to permit a maximum variation of flow of liquid overit for a minimum variation of depth of liquid.

11. In a rectifying plate, a vapor nozzle projecting from said platehaving a base the breadth of which substantially equals its length and afree open end, one dimension of which is greater than the other.

12. In a rectifying column, a substantially horizontal rectifying platehaving therein spaced rows of spaced vapor nozzles, bonnets spacedlaterally from, and each covering, the tops of a row of said nozzles,the width of said bonnets substantially equalling the width of the baseof said nozzles.

13. In a rectifying column, a substantially horizontal and unobstructedrectifying plate means adapted to cause liquid to be rectified to flowin one direction over said plate, said plate having therein spaced rowsof spaced vapor nozzles,the upper portions of said vapor nozzles havingone dimension greaterthan the other, the greater of said dimensionsextending transverse to the direction of liquid flow.

JAMES F. CYPHERS.

